Description: The kudyapi is a boat lute with a hollowed out ovoid body and long necked lute. The kudyapi and its relatives are strongly associated with animals the term "boat lute" is used to define the shape and the method of making the body amongst these particular lutes. The kudyapi is known by many peoples amongst the T'boli, Monobo and other Lumad groups who know the kudyapi as the "Hegelung, Kudyapi or Fedlung". The kudyapi is shared amongst the Maranao and the Maguindinao peoples although the roles of the kudyapi are specific to each group. Intermingling amongst the many ethnic groups in Mindinao explaines why the kudyapi is and its many alternate names are found amongst many of the ethnic groups both Lumad or otherwise. Amongst the Lumad groups the roles of the kudyapi player and vocalist are two separate persons. Another main difference is the Maguindinao and Marinao peoples have a specific set of rhythms who are associated with melodies played on the kudyapi.

The Kudyapi amongst the Maguindinao people: In this style of music the compositions are arranged in the pentatonic scale called "binalig" or "dinaladay" scales.

The Kudyapi amongst the Marinao people: The kudyapi is played amongst the Marinao for the Singkil dance. This largely has been replaced by the more common Kulingtan ensembles. The Kudyapi is also played in accompaniment to the epic chants "bayoka". The kasayao-sa-singkil / kasingkil ensembles often pair the kudyapi with the giwong (jawhap) and soling (flute). The kutyapi is also used in the "serenade ensembles" or kapanirong.

Anatomy of the Kudyapi: The kudyapi has two strings and the frets of the kudyapi are raised each of the frets are positioned under the bottom playing string where as the 2nd string is plucked as a drone. The Maranao people use beeswax for the frets to adhere to the top surface of the neck and body of the kudyapi. In the Northern Philippines the kudyapi is much smaller in size in the Southern Philippines the kudyapi is quite long roughly a meter or longer.

Foot Notes: Lumad is a Cebuano term who is used to describe the Non-Christianized or Non-Islamic groups of Southern Philippines.